Building construction



Nov 9, 1937 R. M. CALKINS ET AL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 29, 1935 Patented Nov. 9,l 1937 PATENT OFFICE BUILDING ooNsraUc'rToN Raymond M. Calkins, Deerfield, and James W. Swank, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,798

2Claixns.

Our. invention relates to building construction of the type involving panels of sheet metal or other suitable material, and it is the object of our invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by the use of which an improved wall or ceiling structure may be produced. It is one of the objects of our invention to provide an improved arrangement of parts by the use of which a tiled facing may be addedl to a wall or ceiling or by which such facing parts may form the body of a wall in a manner to provide a paneled effect, or for improving the acoustical properties of a room, or for any other purpose.

It is one of the objects of our invention to provide an improved arrangement of this type by `reason of which the work of applying the panels in operative position may be substantially cut down as compared with other structures empioyed for similar purposes. To this end, it is one o! the objects of our invention to provide an :improved arrangement in which one edge of a paroi is tacked in position and the adjacent edge of the adjacent panel is capable of being forced into locking engagement with the tacked edge portion, the locking of the two panels being efiected preferably by a resilient snap engagement of one panel with the other, and the arrangement being such that the panels are aorded very strong and rigid support by means covered and hidden by the body portions of the panels.

It is another object of our invention to provide an arrangement of this sort in which ad- `iacent panels are connected together by the use of interfltting boxes arranged along the edges oi the panels, with the parts so disposed that the inside box of one panel can be pushed backwardly into operative position within the outside box of the adjacent panel where it is held by snap engagement therewith, the boxes being arranged so that there shall be a camming action by which the movement of the boxes into interfltting relationship may be readily effected, and each two interfitting boxes being connected with the body portions of the panels by flange portions extending straight backwardly from the edge portions of the bodies in face contact with each other.

It is another object of our invention to improve constructions of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which we have accomplished our several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawing and are hereinafter specifically described. That which we believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view .through a fragmentary portion of a ceiling provided with our improved facing means;

Fig. 2 is a face view of a portion of the ceiling shown lin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar` to a portion of Fig. 1 but showing the parts in a preliminary relative position in the course of the installation of a wall facing; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a fragmentary portion of a side wall in which our inproved facing means forms the body of the w l.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, i0 indicates a ceiling of any approved type having a series of furring strips il secured thereon by any suitable means in parallel relation to each other, in the arrangement shown being spaced at a distance of about twelve inches between centers. Upon the bottom faces of the furring strips il we have provided a series of panels I2 formed of sheet metal, such panels being secured in position by means of box structures as hereinafter set forth. In the arrangement shown, the panels are employed as acoustical tile, being provided with openings i3 therethrough in spaced relation throughout their face portions. Upon their inner or upper faces, each of the panels is provided with a layer il of insulating or sound absorbent material which in the arrangement shown is in the form of rock wool. As will be readily appreciated, by the use of the panels of metal with the openings therethrough and with such openings leading to a substantial layer of insulating .material as described, very satisfactory acoustical effect-s are assured. The outside or bottom faces of the panels are preferably covered with enamel, or may be given any other desirable ornamental finish.

The means illustrated for securing the panels together and for holding them in position upon the furring strips il comprise interfitting box structures formed of flanges bent into cooperating relation along the side edges of the panels. Each two intertting boxes comprises an inside box formed of a series of flanges i5, i6, il and i 8 at one edge of one panel and an outside box comprising a series of iianges I9, 2U, 2|, 22 and 23 formed on the adjacent edge of the connected panel. In the arrangement shown, the flanges Cil 22 or the outside boxes are comparatively narrow and are directed forwardly and inwardly with respect to the box, terminating at their inner edges in ilanges 2t which are directed forwardly and outwardly, the flanges 222 and extending only a short distance transversely or" the box so as to leave the box open substantially across the front. ,The flange il of the inside box is arranged in forwardly divergent position with' backward pressure on the panel equipped withthe inside box a comming action takes place for spreading the outside box 'and contracting the inside box suiiciently against the resiliency of the parts for permitting the boxes to be pressed into cooperative relation as shown in Fig. l. As will be readily understood, as soon as the flange il? passes the edge of ange 2t, the parts snap into holding engagement.

In the use ofour improved panel construction, the outside box of a panel is secured in position upon the face of a furring strip it by means oi a nail 2d or in any other suitable manner. The inside box of an adjacent panel is then. presented in the relation as shown in Fig. 3 and is pushed back into interiitting relationship with the outside box, whereupon the outside box at the opposite edge oi the panel being installed is taclred or otherwise secured in position, the installation of the facing for a wall being thus effected very easily and quickly.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. fi, our irnproved panel construction is employed for providing a side wall, the panels themselves comprising the body of the wall. In this arrangement, a series oistrips 22d are secured in parallel spaced relation across the faces of a series oi studs fit. In such construction, insulating boards 2l are secured to the panels 2t in lieu of the rock wool insulation as shown in Fig. 1, but any desired form or insulating means may be' used. Inasmuch as the arrangement or" the boxes is the same in Fig. 4 as is above described in con'- nection with Fig. l., the same reference characv ters have been employed and it is believed to be unnecessary to describe the construction further. Itv will be noted that the panels 2li are not perforated in the arrangement shown. but the panels may be arranged as desired with respect to the form or design of the exterior tace.

lWe have found that a very satisfactory construction of this type may be 'provided by the use of comparatively thin sheet metal, an edective facing being provided by the use of metal as thin as twenty-four gauge. Any type ol insulating material as desired may be employed, either secured to the face of .the panel or merely resting thereon as shown in Fig. l of the drawing. The panels may be employed for either outside wall lfacings or inside wall facngs, being easily and readily applied in operative position ingany case without the use of special tools.

apparait While we prefer to employ theform and are rangement as shown in our drawing and as above described, it is to be understood that our inven-x tion is not limited to this arrangement except so far as the claims y be so limited by the prior art.

We claimtl. in a building construction, the combination of a sheet metal panel having a straight flange portion extending backwardly from one edge of the body portion oi the panel at right angles thereto and having a box structure formed on the inner face of the dange and comprising a second ange portion at right angles to said first named ange portion, and a third ange portion extending forwardly in divergent position with respect to said rst named flange portion, and a second sheet metal panel having a fourth ange portion extending straightbacirwardly from its edge at right angles thereto and having a box structure formed on the outer face of the flange in position to be nailed to a supporting member, and comprising a fth flange portion at right angles to said fourth flange portion, a sixth flange portion extending forwardly from saidfth ange portion in position to permit the rst named box structure to enter the second box structure by a camming action from the iront, vand means on the forward edge of said sixth dange portion adapted by snap engagement with said third flange portion to hold said two box structures releasably together for connecting said panels side by side and supporting them from said supporting member in forwardly spaced relation thereto.

2. In a building construction, the combination of a sheet metal panel having a straight ange portion extending backwardly from one edge of the body portion of the panel at right angles thereto and having a box structure formed on the inner face 'of the dange and comprising a second nange portion at right angles to said rirsty named flange portion, and a third ange portion extending forwardly in divergent position with respect to said rst named flange portion, and a second sheet metal panel having a fourth iiange Dortioncxtending straight backwardly trom its edge at right angles thereto and having a box structure formed on the outer face of the' ils-.nge in position to be nailed to a supporting member, and comprising a ith ange portion at right angles to said :fourth ange portion, a sixth flange portion extending forwardly from said hfth flange portion Yin divergent position with respect to said fourth :ange portion in such spaced relation thereto as to permit the first named box structure to lenter the second box structure by a cammlng action from the front, and a seventh ange portion on the for-l ward edge of said sixth ange portion extending forwardly in convergent position with respect to said fourth ange portion and adapted by snap engagement with said third ange portion to hold said two box structures releasably together for connecting said panels side by side and supporting them from said supporting member in forwardly spaced relation thereto.

RAYMOND M. CS.

JAWS W. SWA NI x; 

